Which 10 meals do Britons know by heart?

16:57 20 April 2009

The average British resident can make just 10 meals without having to consult a recipe, a new survey of 3,000 people has revealed.

UKTV Food, who commissioned the study to mark the return of its 'Market Kitchen' food show, highlighted that those surveyed made an average of four home-cooked meals per week.

The findings revealed that spaghetti bolognese is the nation's most popular dish that doesn't require any research to construct, ahead of such staple British meals such as traditional roast dinner and cottage pie.

After defining a meal as a main dish containing four or more ingredients, the research discovered that the average UK cook is more comfortable making a foreign dish rather than a domestic one.

Only 16% of those aged 25 or younger cook every day, compared with 45% of those aged 56 and over, suggesting that home cooking is becoming a thing of the past.

Furthermore, the study revealed British cooks own an average of five recipe books each but are increasingly turning to the internet and television cooking shows for inspiration.

Matthew Fort, presenter of 'Market Kitchen', said: "The results provide a good snapshot of what Brits are eating week in, week out, because if you cook something regularly enough you will remember the recipe."

The 10 meals Britons know by heart

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  Spaghetti bolognese (65%)
• Roast dinner (54%)
• Chilli con carne (42%)
• Lasagne (41%)
• Cottage or shepherd's pie (38%)
• Meat or fish stir fry (38%)
• Beef casserole (34%)
• Macaroni cheese (32%)
• Toad in the hole (30%)
• Meat, fish or vegetable curry (26%)